DP World Tour : Inside the Omega European Masters in Swiss Alps...

 The Back 9 continues this week as the Omega European Masters presents players with their last chance to impress Team Europe Captain Luke Donald before he makes his picks for the Ryder Cup. Here are your five things to know.

Wallace defends his title

Matt Wallace arrives in Switzerland looking to defend his title after last year’s dramatic play-off win against Alfredo Garcia-Heredia. The 35-year-old has performed well in his last three trips to Crans-Montana, finishing second in 2022 and sealing a top 25 12 months later. 

He won last year’s tournament with the help of opening rounds of 64-62 en route to finishing 14th on the Race to Dubai, his best season-long finish for five years. The Englishman is looking to bounce back after a couple of disappointing Sundays but has made all seven of his DP World Tour cuts this season.

Last chance to impress

While Wallace spoke of returning to Switzerland with a "heavy heart" after a closing 73 last week, he appeared to resign himself that he will miss out on a Ryder Cup Captain's Pick from Donald, there are some who will be out to impress the skipper this week. 

However, that will not be a concern for 2021 winner Rasmus Højgaard, who sealed the final automatic spot on Team Europe at last week's Betfred British Masters hosted by Sir Nick Faldo. 

Matt Fitzpatrick is a three-time Ryder Cupper and Major Champion who will be looking to continue a love affair with Crans-Montana this week. A two-time champion with three other top tens to his name in eight appearances at this event, there can be no better place for him to put on a show after registering five top tens in his last seven events worldwide. 

Fellow Englishmen Marco Penge - a two-time winner this season - and Aaron Rai will also be looking to stake their claims ahead of decision time for Donald on September 1.

Inside the Field

While many eyes will be on those looking for a place in the European Ryder Cup team, the planet's other continents are also well represented in a strong field. U.S. Open champion of 2023 Wyndham Clark could be teeing off up the mountain with a spring in his step on Thursday, with U.S skipper Keegan Bradley making his picks on Wednesday - Clark finished 17th in qualification and played in the biennial spectacular in 2023. 

He is joined by fellow PGA TOUR stars Patrick Rodgers and Erik van Rooyen and 11 winners from the 2025 Race to Dubai, including last week's winner and two-time champion at this event Alex Noren. Add in fellow former champions Danny Willett and Miguel Ángel Jiménez and we are all set for a spectacular show.

Au revoir MLV

This week sees Mike Lorenzo-Vera make his 285th and final DP World Tour appearance after a career that has seen him become one of the most popular and charismatic players on the continent. 

He made his debut in 2007, the same year he topped the HotelPlanner Tour Rankings, and while it took him a while to truly establish himself, he finished in the top 100 on the Race to Dubai for six consecutive seasons after a second graduation in 2014. 

A winner on the HotelPlanner Tour at the 2007 Grand Final, a DP World Tour victory has proven elusive, with a play-off defeat at the 2018 Rocco Forte Sicilian Open among his five runner-up finishes. 

Ever candid, Lorenzo-Vera revealed he was finding joy in the game again in January after taking a break for his mental health but will now call it a day after coming down from the clouds this week. MLV, it's been a blast - Bonne chance pour l'avenir!

europeantour.com

Bryan Angus (edit)